Claims:1. A roof ditch assembly 100 for a vehicle, said assembly 100 comprising:
an elongated main body 102 having an upper surface 102a and a lower surface 102b;
a plurality of clip mounting sections 104 formed integrally at said lower surface 102b of said main body 102, each of said clip mounting section 104 defines an opening; and
at least one clip 106 adapted to be received within said each opening of said clip mounting section 104,
wherein,
said clip 106 defines an aperture oriented to be aligned with a connection stud 108 provided on a vehicle roof 114.
2. The roof ditch assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clip 106 is mounted to said vehicle roof, said clip 106 having a first end and a second end, a continuous wall with said aperture extending between the first end and the second end, said continuous wall includes an inner surface adapted to pressed or pushed against said connection stud 108, and a pair of elongated projection 106a extending away perpendicularly from said inner surface and defined continuously between said first end and said second end.
3. The roof ditch assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clip 106 is provided with a snap locking arrangement 112 on its inner surface.
4. The roof ditch assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said clip 106 is provided with a snap locking arrangement 112 on its outer surface.
5. The roof ditch assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said each of clip mounting section 104 is held in a position by a plurality of ribs 110 which are disposed facing each other.
6. The roof ditch assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body 102 includes:
said upper surface 102a;
said lower surface 102b; and
a left wing 102c and a right wing 102d extending downwards from said upper surface 102a.
7. The roof ditch assembly 100 as claimed in claim 1, wherein said main body 102, said clip mounting sections 104, and said clip 106 are unitary.
8. A method 200 of mounting a roof ditch assembly 100 to a vehicle, said method 200 comprising:
providing an elongated main body 102 having an upper surface 102a and a lower surface 102b;
forming a plurality of clip mounting sections 104 integrally to said lower surface 102b of said main body 102, each of said clip mounting section 104 defines an opening;
providing at least one clip 106 adapted to be received within said each opening of said clip mounting section 104, wherein said clip 106 defines an aperture; and
positioning said clip 106 on a connection stud 108 provided on a vehicle roof.
, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[001] The embodiments herein generally relate to roof structures for automobiles, more particularly to a roof ditch assembly and a method of mounting the roof ditch assembly to a vehicle roof.
BACKGROUND
[002] Generally, vehicles are manufactured using different body parts which are made up of sheet metal and other materials. The body parts are adjoined through welding or through other fastening means. A roof of the vehicle includes a groove portion extending along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle which is formed between a roof panel and a side outer panel. The roof panel and the side outer panel are bonded to each other by a spot welding or a laser welding. A paint seal for waterproofing is also applied to a bottom surface of the groove portion. In the case of the laser welding, a laser trail is generated on the bottom surface of the groove portion.
[003] There are many ways available to cover the interface between the roof and the side outer panel, so that the joinery is not visible to a customer. To cover the weld joints and other fastening means different cover and claddings are used in the vehicle which conceals the weld joints and the fastening elements, thus improving the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle.
[004] A conventional art discloses a multi-piece moulding retainer assembly having a female stud engagement latch which is held in floating snap-fit relation within a moulding engagement clip adapted to engage and retain the overlying moulding. The stud engagement latch and the moulding engagement clip are moveable w.r.t to one another in both longitudinal and lateral directions after attachment. The retainer assembly accommodates variations in stud position and height such that the attached moulding may be positioned properly despite variations in the studs. However, the fabrication of the retainer assembly involves multi pieces. Thereby leading to a gap or an overlap in the design. Further, the multi-piece moulding retainer assembly requires skilled labors for achieving craftsmanship, and controlling variations in the assembly. Further, the fabrication of the retainer assembly incurs additional investment cost and assembly time.
[005] Another conventional art discloses a clip assembly for positioning a trim strip in a first direction and a second direction. The clip assembly includes a body portion, at least one centering wing connected to the body portion, and at least one flange connected to the body portion, with the flange connectable to a trim strip. The conventional art further includes a fastener connectable to a vehicle such that when the fastener is connected to the vehicle, the centering wing locates the clip assembly and the trim strip in the first direction and the flange connects the clip assembly to the trim strip. The construction of the clip assembly includes additional centering wing connector, fasteners, and additional flange. Further, the assembly requires additional investment cost and additional assembly time. Furthermore, weight of the assembly is increased due to the additional metal flange and extra fasteners.
[006] Therefore, there exists a need for a roof ditch assembly and a method of mounting the roof ditch assembly that eliminates the aforementioned drawbacks.
OBJECTS
[007] The principle object of an embodiment herein is to provide a roof ditch assembly for a vehicle roof.
[008] Another object of an embodiment herein is to provide a method of mounting the roof ditch assembly for a vehicle roof.
[009] Yet another object of an embodiment herein is to provide a roof ditch assembly which is simple in construction and inexpensive.
[0010] Still another object of an embodiment herein is to provide a single piece roof ditch assembly with integral clip holders.
[0011] The objects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0012] This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout which like reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. The embodiments herein will be better understood from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which
[0013] FIG. 1 depicts perspective view of location of roof ditch assembly on a vehicle roof, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0014] FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged view of a roof ditch assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0015] FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged view of a clip mounting section of the roof ditch assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0016] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein;
[0017] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line B-B of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein; and
[0018] FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart showing method of mounting the roof ditch assembly on a vehicle roof, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] The embodiments herein and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions of known components are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.
[0020] The embodiments herein achieve a roof ditch assembly for a vehicle roof. Further, the embodiments herein achieve a roof ditch assembly which is simple in construction and inexpensive. Furthermore, the embodiments herein achieve a single piece roof ditch assembly with integral clip holders. Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through FIGS. 6 where similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the figures, there are shown embodiments.
[0021] FIG. 1 depicts perspective view of location of roof ditch assembly on a vehicle roof, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. A roof 114 of the vehicle includes a groove portion which extends along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. It is formed between a roof panel and a side outer panel. The groove portion has an inverse structure in which right and left wall portions are inclined inward to each other. A roof ditch assembly is inserted in the groove portion of the roof 114 to cover the joinery marks made by a spot welding or a laser welding.
[0022] FIG. 2 depicts an enlarged view of a roof ditch assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. In an embodiment, the roof ditch assembly for the vehicle includes an elongated main body 102 having an upper surface 102a and a lower surface 102b (as shown in FIG. 4), a plurality of clip mounting sections 104 (as shown in FIG. 3), the clip mounting section 104 defines an opening (not shown), at least one clip 106 (as shown in FIG. 2), and a connection stud 108 (as shown in FIG. 4).
[0023] The roof ditch assembly 100 for the vehicle includes the elongated main body 102. The elongated main body 102 includes an upper surface 102a, a lower surface 102b, a left wing 102c and a right wing 102d extending downwards from the upper surface 102a. The elongated main body 102 is disposed in the groove portion of the roof 114. The elongated main body 102 is adapted to cover the groove which extends along a longitudinal direction of the vehicle. In an embodiment, the elongated main body 102 is made of polymer. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any other type material for main body without otherwise deterring the intended function of covering as can be deduced from the description and drawings.
[0024] FIG. 3 depicts an enlarged view of a clip mounting section of the roof ditch assembly, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The roof ditch assembly 100 for the vehicle includes the plurality of clip mounting sections 104. The plurality of clip mounting sections 104 are formed at the lower surface 102b of the elongated main body 102. The plurality of clip mounting sections 104 are formed integrally to the lower surface 102b of the elongated main body 102. Each of the clip mounting sections 104 defines an opening (not shown). The opening is configured to receive the clip 106. The clip mounting sections 104 is formed and held in a position by a plurality of ribs 110 which are disposed facing each other i.e. the plurality of ribs 110 are defined on all sides of the clip mounting section 104.
[0025] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along a line A-A of FIG. 3, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The roof ditch assembly 100 for the vehicle includes the clip 106. The clip 106 is adapted to be received within the opening of the clip mounting section 104. The clip 106 defines an aperture oriented to be aligned with the connection stud 108 provided on the vehicle roof 114. The clip 106 includes a first end (not shown) and a second end (not shown), and a continuous wall (not shown) with the aperture (not shown) extending between the first end (not shown) and the second end (not shown). The continuous wall of the aperture (not shown) includes an inner surface (not shown) which is adapted to pressed or pushed against the connection stud 108. The inner surface of the continuous wall includes a sliding contact surface with a snap lock arrangement. The clip 106 further includes a pair of elongated projections 106a extending away perpendicularly from the inner surface and continuously between the first end and the second end as shown in FIG. 5. In an embodiment, the clip 106 is provided with the snap locking arrangement on its inner surface and on its outer surface. The elongated projections 106a of the clip 106 defined towards the first end is adapted to be received inside the clip mounting sections 104. The elongated projections 106a are made up of elastically deformable structures, so that they can be easily pushed against the clip mounting sections 104 to lock the clip 106 in the clip mounting sections 104. In an embodiment, the clip 106 is made of plastic. However, it is also within the scope of the invention to provide any other type material for clip without otherwise deterring the intended function of gripping as can be deduced from the description and drawings.
[0026] FIG. 6 depicts a flow chart showing method of mounting the roof ditch assembly for a vehicle roof, according to an embodiment of the invention as disclosed herein. The method 200 for mounting the roof ditch assembly 100 is disclosed. The method includes providing an elongated main body 102 having an upper surface 102a and a lower surface 102b, (at step 202). The method further includes forming a plurality of clip mounting sections 104 integrally to said lower surface 102b of said main body 102, each of said clip mounting section 104 defines an opening, (at step 204). The method further includes providing at least one clip 106 adapted to be received within said each opening of said clip mounting section 104, wherein said clip 106 defines an aperture, (at step 206). Furthermore, the method includes positioning said clip 106 on a connection stud 108 provided on a vehicle roof, (at step 208).
[0027] The embodiments described herein above includes several technical advantages including, but not limited to, single piece construction, simple fastener selection and its assembly with roof ditch, simple interface requirement with stud welding on roof panel, very simple assembly process by giving simple press fit, zero aesthetic issues and reduction in assembly tact time.
[0028] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the embodiments herein that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments without departing from the generic concept, and, therefore, such adaptations and modifications should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. Therefore, while the embodiments herein have been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein.